U.S Immigration/Student Visa

The I-20 is for international applicants who are admitted to a degree program on campus. 

If you are outside of the United States:
The 招生 Office will mail your I-20 by regular international airmail. After receiving your I-20, make sure that all the information is correct and that your name is spelled exactly as it appears on your passport.

If you are in the U.S. with  F-1 student status:
If you are currently attending another U.S. school as an F-1 student you are considered a SEVIS Immigration transfer. 

注意: If you have been outside the United States for less than five (5) months after attending another U.S. school, you may be considered a SEVIS transfer.

If you are a Canadian citizen, you do not need to apply for U.S. 学生签证 but must have an I-20/DS-2019 form in order to enter the U.S. with a F-1/J-1 student status. 

The DS-2019 is typically for applicants who are admitted as part of an Exchange Visitor Program and will seek/maintain the J-1 exchange student or visiting scholar status.

如果你的丈夫, wife and/or children will join you as your dependent(s), each dependent will need to have his/her own Certificate of Eligibility to apply for the J-2 dependent visa. 可靠的网赌平台 must receive proof of financial resources for their support in addition to the amount needed for yourself. 点击这里 for the current estimated expenses, including dependent expenses.

How long is my I-20 or DS-2019 valid?

 The I-20 form will list the date when your studies are to begin. You may enter the United States up to 30 days before this date. The date on the I-20 form of when the program will end is the expiration date. Once expired, you will lose your 学生签证 status and must leave the United States within 60 days.

What if I lose my I-20 or DS-2019 form?

If the I-20 form is lost, a new one can be requested from 可靠的网赌平台. It can be problematic if you lose the I-20 form outside of the U.S., as a replacement can take a few weeks to arrive; therefore, classes could be missed while waiting. Until you receive the new I-20 form, you will not be allowed to re-enter the United States.

When will I need the I-20 or DS-2019 form?

The I-20 form is very important and you will need it for various things, including:

SEVIS is an electronic Student and Exchange Visitor 信息 System for maintaining information on international students and exchange visitors in the United States. All international students and exchange visitors must be registered and pay the I-901 SEVIS fee before applying for their U.S. 学生签证. 

注意: The SEVIS fee is not the same as the visa application fee. 

Choose one of the following methods to pay SEVIS fee:

1. 网上付款网址: fmjfee.com with a credit or debit card.
2. Make payment through Western Union Quick Pay.
3. Use a check or a money order, which must be drawn from a U.S. 银行. 

For more detailed information regarding SEVIS fee payment, please see the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (US ICE) website. 注意: In box number 2, on the Certificate of Eligibility, you will find Louisiana State University's School Code (I-20) or Exchange Visitor Program number (DS-2019). 

You must present the receipt as proof of payment for your visa. It is important that the SEVIS ID number on your i - 90 SEVIS Fee receipt matches your SEVIS ID number on your I-20 form. 

如何申请

The steps to complete visa process may vary by U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Please consult the instructions on the embassy or consulate website. For more information about U.学生签证, please visit http://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study/student-visa.html.

1. Complete the 在线 Visa Application 表格ds - 160 and print the form confirmation page to bring to your interview. 了解更多 about completing the DS-160.

2. Prepare Required Document: You should have the following documents available while you complete your DS-160. 

• 照片 - You will need to upload your photo to the form. 请参阅 照片graph Requirements.
• 护照 - Provide a current passport that is valid for at least six months after your proposed date of entry into the U.S.
• 形式I-20 for the F-1 visa or a DS-2019 for the J-1 visa. 
• 的证明 i - 90 SEVIS fee payment and SEVIS ID, which is printed on your I-20 or DS-2019.
• Evidence of financial support for the time period and amount indicated on the I-20 or DS-2019 form. To show that you or your parents can cover tuition cost and living expenses during the period of your intended study, evidence of financial support may include a certificate of sponsorship/ scholarship from the institution, original 银行 books, and/or 银行 状态ments.
• Provide the address of the school/program at which you intend to study. This information should also be located on your I-20 or DS-2019 form.

3. Prepare for your interview by providing the following:

• Transcripts and diplomas from previous institutions attended.
• Scores from standardized tests required by the educational institution such as the TOEFL, 坐, GRE考试, GMAT考试, 等.
• Proof that you have a residence abroad that you have no intention of abandoning.
• A receipt for visa processing fee (see the website for the U.年代领事馆 in your country for specific instructions on paying this fee.)

The wait time for a visa interview or appointment vary at each U.年代领事馆 or Embassy, so applying as early as possible is encouraged. 然而, you should not schedule a visa appointment until after you receive your I-20/DS-2019 to ensure that you have all the required documents for your appointment. 每个国家的U.年代领事馆 or Embassy has its own procedures for scheduling a visa interview appointment and paying the DS-160 在线 Nonimmigrant Visa Application fee. To familiarize yourself with these procedures, visit the U.年代领事馆 or Embassy website, where you will be applying for the visa.

签证面谈
The visa interview will be the most important part of the process. You should remember that the person who interviews you does not have a lot of time, so the more organized you are for the interview, the better the process will go. 
 
NAFSA: Association of International Educators has put together a list of tips for your interview, which can be viewed on the NAFSA的网站.
 
Be advised that you should not buy your airline ticket until you learn that your visa application is approved.